A few days ago, White House officials let it be known that President Obama would be stopping in Washington State again for a mid-February visit.
They didn’t announce his itinerary or schedule, but we figured it wouldn’t be long before the campaign began sending out invitations to fundraisers with the President. Yesterday, the first invitations began going out, for an event in downtown Bellevue around midday.
Here are the details:
Please join President Obama at a Lunch with supporters like you in Bellevue.
What:
Obama Victory Fund 2012 — Lunch with President Obama & Special Performance by the Head and the HeartWhere:
Bellevue Westin
600 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue, WashingtonWhen:
Friday, February 17, 2012
12:30 PMSpace is Limited
The minimum required to get in the door is $1,000. For just $4,000 more, you can have your picture taken with the President at a photo reception. For a grand total of $6,000, you can get into the photo reception with a friend.
Or, for $10,000, you can buy up a table at the event.
There is a special $250 rate for Young Democrats, but even that reduced rate may be beyond the means of those it is intended to benefit.
(Tuition in this state keeps going up, as Democrats currently attending Washington’s public universities and colleges can attest).
Prior to speaking at the luncheon, the President will be attending an invitation-only brunch with even more generous donors. His campaign holds a lot of those kinds of events during any given month — most at private residences.
As far as we know, no events have yet been announced in Seattle itself.
We’ll let you know if any are.
For security reasons, the Secret Service never divulges trip logistics or notifies the news media which routes the President’s motorcade will take during a visit. However, if history is any indication, it might be a good idea to avoid I‑5 and SR 520 during midmorning and midafternoon on Friday, February 17th. Those highways will likely be shut down while the President goes to and from Boeing Field.
We wonder, though: if the President and his entourage take SR 520, will they need to pay the bridge toll? Emergency vehicles are exempt if on official business — but what about The Beast? And the press vans?
8 Comments
Do you know if there will be an event open to the public?
Unlikely. The President has participated in just one large public event here since taking office: the October 2010 rally at Hec Edmundson Pavilion for Senator Patty Murray. All of the other events he has done here have been campaign fundraisers or official events open to preapproved, credentialed media only.
Actually, emergency vehicles ARE NOT exempt, even if on official business.
Whoever told you that was incorrect, Chris. As I wrote in the post, emergency vehicles are exempt when on official business.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Here’s WSDOT:
I think they would know, seeing as they’re responsible for collecting the toll.
Looks he’ll be landing at PAE and not BFI.
For those who cannot afford to attend the $1,000 a plate luncheon, Chris Natale is organizing a Get The Money Out of Politics Free Lunch — Occupy Election Fundraising in Bellevue’s Downtown Park. The Facebook event is here if you’d like to RSVP.
Editor’s Note: This comment was edited to comply with NPI’s Commenting Guidelines.
Does anyone know if the metro buses (Sound Transit) will be operating during the President’s appearance. Mostly, some people kind of need to get to places even if the President is here…
Landis–did you try looking at Metro’s website?